Early fears for missing residents after a fire in a Lilydale, Melbourne retirement village abated once all were accounted for.

“The police looked after that aspect of it last night, working through the night to identify all the residents in the retirement village to make sure they were all safe and accounted for,” said CFA operations Mark Kennedy.

The blaze broke out in the village’s community centre, which has been completely destroyed. More than 40 fire fighters battled the blaze

75 year old resident Patricia Mills spoke about how the centre was engulfed in black smoke.

“There was black smoke puffing everywhere and then explosions and flames leaping in the air,” she said. “It was awful.”

Because the centre was a stand-alone building, no evacuation of residents was necessary.